Hornets shoot down Onsted

Saturday

Jan 12, 2013 at 9:00 AM

By Ed Patinoed.patino@hillsdale.netHILLSDALE — With its opponent's length presenting a challenge, the Hillsdale High School boys basketball answered from long range.Getting key shots from behind the arc at critical times, the Hornets extended their winning streak with a 60-43 victory over the Onsted Wildcats in a Lenawee County Athletic Association showdown Friday evening.Hillsdale (8-1, 4-1 LCAA) has won six straight games, four of which have come on its current five-game home stand. Onsted (5-2, 3-2 LCAA) held a slight height advantage and got a big game from 6-8 junior Devin Louden, but the Hornets connected for eight 3-pointers on the night and had three players score in double figures. After the teams exchanged the lead in the opening four minutes, Hillsdale took control with a 19-6 run and never trailed after that."Both of us came in 3-1 in the league, and I thought there was more pressure on us being on our home court," Hillsdale coach Brad Felix said. "We played well tonight, and the key was our perimeter shooting. We hit some big shots at key times."Brandon Bisher hit consecutive shots in the first quarter, giving the Hornets an 8-4 lead. Zach Cranson answered with a four-point play, then hit a jumper, giving Onsted a 10-8 lead. Bisher immediately hit a 3-pointer to kick off Hillsdale's run.Bisher hit a jumper and Jimmy Chase added a layup to end the first quarter, then Patrick Drews scored twice in the paint to open the second, giving the Hornets a 21-12 lead."This is always a tough place to play and a difficult matchup because they have four guys who can knock down shots at any time," Onsted coach Brad Maska said. "Hillsdale dictated the pace tonight and they didn't miss. It was not our night, but our captains immediately grabbed the guys and said we'll rebound from this."Two minutes later, Martin Petersen connected on a pair of missiles, extending Hillsdale's lead to 27-16. The Wildcats fought back as Cranson hit a layup and Louden scored on a putback, cutting the deficit to five, but Chase answered with a 3-pointer. In the final minute, Drews scored inside before Bisher hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer, giving the Hornets a 36-24 halftime lead."Pat had his best game of the year against bigger kids, and he had some big-time shots in the second half," Felix said. "Martin came off the bench in the first half and hit two big 3's."The teams exchanged baskets midway through the third quarter as Hillsdale maintained its double-digit lead. A missile from Drews and layup from Bisher gave the Hornets a 16-point lead, but Louden and Travis Newsome scored inside, bringing Onsted to within 45-33 late in the frame. Bisher responded with a free throw before hitting a floater with two seconds left, putting Hillsdale up 15.Louden opened the fourth quarter by putting down an alley-oop dunk, but Drews buried a 3-pointer, making it 51-35.Bisher finished with 17 points to lead the Hornets. Drews added 15 points, while Chase scored 10 points. Petersen finished with nine points.Louden finished with a game-high 21 points to lead Onsted. Cranson added 11 points, while Newsome scored eight points."Devin put on about 30 pounds and worked hard in the gym a lot," Maska said. "It's a tough road for us and this league continues to get tougher, but I have good leaders on this team."Hillsdale will conclude its home stand Tuesday when it host Ida."We still have to work on finishing games, but this is a good win," Felix said. "We have to get every win we can at home."